Every year, across the world, new islands are formed, usually following violent storms, volcanoes or other seismic activity. While some will last long enough to be mapped, others will sink back into the sea, never to be seen again. Guardian Australia's 'Ocean Correspondent', James Woodford visited the Coral Sea earlier this year and stepped on one such island, in Holmes Reef, that first appeared after Cyclone Nathan. He also dived the waters of the reef, seeing for himself one of the most pristine environments in the Southern Pacific Ocean – an area scientists hope will soon be protected from fishing and other exploitation.